Conflicts continue on “insider” citizen boards

After recusing himself from a conflict on the Historic Architectural Review Board Thursday, November 20, Jeremy Marquis left the table while his partner, Fred Halback, presented the plans for approval to build a new structure on the site of the demolished Pedro Fornells House, at 62 Spanish Street.

Halback presented the plans on behalf of former board chairman, Claude L. Weeks, Jr. and his wife, Kristina G. Weeks. Weeks resigned from the board after a city investigation revealed numerous violations of city code, failure to exercise due care, and employing unapproved methods that led to the emergency demolition of the 200-year-old colonial period landmark. Weeks has been fined $3,600 for code violations.

“As my firm and I are working on the plans, I recused myself and did not present the plans to HARB at the meeting,” Marquis told Historic City News in an e-mail. “The St Augustine Record newspaper article did not fully clarify that I did not present to the board, either, and I always strive to conduct myself with integrity and transparency.”

Despite a comment by Weeks that “only the preservationists will know the difference”, Marquis announced that the new two-story masonry building, with a stucco finish, will be in the style of a second period Spanish colonial building, but it will not be a reconstruction of the former building.

Weeks said shortly after the collapse that he was salvaging materials and planned to build another structure. When board members approved plans for the site Thursday, they added conditions, including a cultural resource assessment.